Overview
- Midfielder Yannick Bright said he “almost fainted” on first meeting Lionel Messi and described him as humble off the field but ferociously competitive in matches.
- Bright called Messi a motivating leader who finds the right words before games and maintains exacting standards in training.
- Former Inter Miami and USMNT player Brek Shea argued Cristiano Ronaldo would have a larger off-field impact in MLS, citing language comfort and a more public persona, while stressing he was not talking about on-field output.
- Recent reporting credits Messi with substantial commercial gains for MLS, including roughly a 20% jump in attendance, a doubling of streaming interest, and heightened celebrity attention around Inter Miami.
- Inter Miami plans to resume training in early January under Mascherano, play friendlies on a South American tour later in the month, open the 2026 MLS season on February 21 at LAFC, and begin the Champions Cup on March 11 against the Nashville SC–Atlético Ottawa winner.